literati

The word 'literati' entered English in the early 17th century directly from the Latin plural litterati, meaning 'the learned' or 'the lettered'. This Latin term itself derives from littera, meaning 'a letter of the alphabet', which metaphorically extended to signify literature and learning. The concept thus evolved from the concrete idea of being marked by letters to the abstract notion of being erudite and knowledgeable in literary culture. It was specifically adopted to describe a class of scholarly and cultured individuals, often with a connotation of forming an elite or influential social group.

Structure: liter (letter) + ati (plural suffix) 'liter' originates from Latin littera (letter of the alphabet, writing). 'ati' is a plural suffix derived from the Latin plural ending -ati, as found in words borrowed from Italian or Latin.